In re S.L.

Illinois Appellate Court
Civil Court
Termination of Parental Rights
Citation
Case Number: 
2012 IL App (5th) 120271
Decision Date: 
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
District: 
5th Dist.
Division/County: 
Marion Co.
Holding: 
Reversed and remanded.
Justice: 
STEWART
Evidence does not support finding that State proved mother unable to discharge her parental responsibilities due to mental impairment. The only basis for finding of unfitness on that ground was testimony of psychologist that mother would need 6-12 months of logistical stability to show that she had made sufficient changes to be able to care for child, and at time of hearing she had shown every element of that stability. DCFS did not see need to intervene as to mother's parenting of her other child, and thus it was unreasonable to conclude that mother lacked mental capacity to parent one child but not the other.(GOLDENHERSH and SPOMER, concurring.)